How I became a wino: my journey through the vintages

Lately I've been writing a lot of posts about wine. 

That would make sense to those people that know my family.

I'll explain: My parents are pretty much winos. They own a restaurant with possibly the biggest, most extensive wine list I've ever seen. The wine cellar in our basement is as big as a bedroom - if not bigger. My dad owns a winery and vineyard. My parents drink things like Shiraz, Zinfandel, Sauvignon Blanc, Malbec, and Chardonnay (that simply cannot be oaky). I repeat: My parents are winos.

For those of you who know me, however, you know that for the past couple of years, I've been a sweet wine, vodka lemonade, and appletini person. Hardly the type who drinks wine on a regular basis.

In the past couple of months, I've been trying different things. You can even read this post on the red wines that I like. I've tried some kinds of scotch, and to my surprise, I like it! I've been trying different kinds of gin martinis, and I've found I like them dirty - with lots of olive brine. However, the thing I'm most interested in trying is wine.

My three favorite wines. Stellina Di Notte Pinot Grigio, CK Mondavi White Zinfandel, and Sante Pinot Noir

**Disclaimer, for those of you who don't know diddly about wine, the spectrum goes from sweet to dry (Sweet to non-sweet or bitter).

What's the big deal about 'nice' wine? 

Here's my opinion. A, "good," wine is something that a person who has developed a taste for dryer wines thinks is outstanding. That's why the wines cost so much.

However, an amateur wine drinker, who buys Barefoot on sale whenever he or she can get it is just throwing their money away trying to impress someone if they buy a bottle of wine over $50.

Wining on a regular basis

Since I started drinking wine, I liked the sweeter stuff. But as a couple of years went by, I started to realize that those rieslings and moscatos started to taste... syrupy. Almost too sweet! So I started drinking dry riesling. My favorite is Relax.

After a while, relax started to taste too sweet. So I went to the experts to find a new go-to: My parents. They said that I'd probably like a white zinfandel or a pinot grigio. Guess what? I did.

And that's where I am. I'd be lying if I said I haven't tried any other kinds of wines. I got into red wine, and found I like Pinot Noir. I tried Merlot, and found it was way too dry for my taste, and it just tastes a little bitter. I tried some of my dad's wine, A Westbrook Cellars, and I found that I like the white he makes, Two Girls, and that the red he makes, Chambourcin, is too dry and bitter for my taste.

I tasted some different kinds of chardonnay and found out what, "Oaky," means. I tasted zinfandel and found out what, "legs," are in wine terms. So the only way to become a wino is to taste, taste, taste. In other words, you have to wine on a regular basis.

Keep it Classy. Keep it Country,
Gretta Patrick <3

What's your favorite type of wine/drink? Or do you even drink? Comment below!